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There are only two of its kind in Canada – one of which happened to land in Brockville.

Futureshop.ca has come to the city, testing the future of the Future Shop brand with a pilot site that’s part of the corporation's expansion strategy.

“This is our way now of having a smaller footprint and entering some of the markets where it doesn't make sense to open up a 27,000-square-foot Future Shop store,” said Elliot Chun, communications manager for Future Shop. “We have 149 stores coast to coast; we've really maxed out when it comes to servicing the large markets in Canada.”

Futureshop.ca is located on Parkedale Avenue east, in the previous Future Shop location but in a smaller space.

The reason for the change, Chun said, is that Brockville's population of just over 20,000 provided an ideal market for the company to embrace and test its smaller store footprint.

“If you were to walk in today, you would see 4,000 square feet of space,” Chun said. “We've got a beautiful floor-to-ceiling modern concept we've designed to welcome the customer in a very open, clean-lined type of feel.”

And unlike a traditional Future Shop, Chun added, there is less of a warehouse feel as product is not stored above eye level. Product is stored in the back.

The previous Future Shop location in Brockville had been 20,000 square feet. The space remaining unfilled in the building is to be sublet, since Future Shop had originally leased the entire structure from landlord Smart Centres, said Sheldon Penman, local general manager of Futureshop.ca.

The store was able to keep all staff members from the previous warehouse-style store. Each employee on the sales floor is cross-trained, meaning they have knowledge in every department, with the exception of cellular and connect pro.

“You no longer have to be passed on to another department. That's nice, especially during the holidays,” Chun said.

This style goes hand in hand with the company's expansion plan of having their stores being “multichannel focuses,” Chun said - a combination of physical locations as well as a strong presence online.

“We've looking at how we bring this customer service to the next level in Canada. These Futureshop.ca stores really hammer that example through,” Chun said.

“We've got different options that are very convenient for customers to choose from.”

For example, a television could be purchased over the Internet to be shipped to the Brockville store for pick up; purchased from a mobile phone to be shipped to a residence; or android-powered tablets set up throughout the store are equipped to make transactions on the spot.

Customers can drive their vehicles behind the store to have large purchases loaded for them as opposed to hauling it out through the store and parking lot themselves.

The second Futureshop.ca, a North Vancouver store, had its grand opening on November 2 with upwards of 200 people waiting to check the store out, Chun said.

“The early signs in North Vancouver are positive, which is encouraging,” Chun said of indicators the new Futureshop.ca stores can be viewed successful.

“We are expecting nothing but the best out of Brockville as well.”

FACTBOX:

OLYMPIC-SIZED OPENING

The Brockville Futureshop.ca location has had a soft opening to test systems and receive stock, but will hold its grand opening this weekend starting Friday with deals offered all weekend long.

On Friday, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., trampoline gymnast Rosie MacLennan, Canada's only gold-medalist at London’s 2012 Olympics, will be at the store meeting fans and signing autographs.

On Saturday, the Brockville Braves Junior “A” hockey team will follow suit and meet fans inside the store from noon to 4:30 p.m.